Spatial Justice: Creating a Unisex Restrooms in Taiwan

International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017

Chihyuan Chang

 gradually seen more and more emphasis and concerns by Abstract—This study recommended that Taiwan’s unisex society, while the locations of such toilets in Taiwan are restroom designs, on the basis of building usage types and mostly at universities, colleges and public sector institutions, public usage characteristics, be divided into single and complex and most of which are in the nature of demonstrations and types in order to adapt to local conditions. In addition, in single-point settings. furthering the use of unisex restrooms, governments should not only consider the standpoint of the user (such as male, female, In addition, compared to the “Convention on the transgender) in design and planning, but also take into account Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women " general users’ experience. Based on the concepts of the United under the United Nations Charter, which is paying more and Nations’ “Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of more attention to women's basic human rights, the value of Discrimination Against Women" for the elimination of human dignity and gender equality rights, the Building Act of discrimination against women (such as elderly or handicapped Taiwan has neither mandatorily stipulated the necessity of women), equality of acquiring resources and gender-equal rights, the unisex restroom indeed needs to be set and the State setting unisex restrooms, nor formulated relevant should take appropriate measures to protect the rights of specifications. women. The present study asks: What is the difference between an accessible toilet and a unisex restroom? What are the issues Index Terms—Unisex restroom, all-gender restroom, gender of the social environment? How should we conduct planning neutral restroom, spatial justice. and design for unisex restrooms?

I. INTRODUCTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW The design of public restrooms has always been an important study issue because it involves factors such as A. Feminism and Unisex Restrooms gender, hygiene, accessibility, use of space, and equipment The basic mission of the feminist movement is to remove and piping. the gender systems in societies in order to deconstruct and In modern society, there are no restrooms built especially reconstruct women’s identity. In practice and discourse, for a particular sex at homes in most countries. The whole rejecting the female identity defined by men or imprinted of family shares one restroom. But for restrooms in public patriarchal families by demanding equality, by pointing out space, since they are used by various people, privacy and differences or by segregating completely to defend the rights gender factors are included in the design. Because of the of women is the bottom line of feminism. different male’s and female’s toilet usage time, there are not “All-Gender Restroom”, aka unisex restroom, restroom for enough women’s restrooms in public buildings. both genders / universal restroom, residential bathroom, Consequently, long queue is a common scene at women’s gender neutral restroom, means broadly public restrooms that restrooms. Furthermore, which type of public restroom are available to and used by everyone. They are generally should male adults with young girls, female adults with thought to be the partial solution to senior citizens or young young boys or men or women with physically-challenged children that need the assistance from their family members seniors use? They are usually troubled by gender issue when when going to the restroom and the disproportionate numbers they need to go to the restroom, not to mention there is safety of male and female restrooms and disproportionate toilet issue involved. usage time. As for transgender or homosexual people, what type of Longhurst (2001) discussed the fluid boundaries. He talks public restrooms should they use? The solutions for the above about the shape, depth, biology, insides, outsides and issues happen in the public buildings in Taiwan are provided boundaries of bodies’ places in particular temporal and according to the regulations for accessible restrooms in spatial contexts. Women’s and men’s bodily boundaries can “Design Specifications of Accessible of and Usable be linked to a politics of fluidity/ solidity and Buildings and Facilities”. However, it affects the rights of irrationality/rationality. Bodies are socially constructed and physically-challenged people because their toilet usage time are also always in a state of becoming with places. Domestic is usually longer which could take up to 30 minutes. Thus the toilets/bathrooms are often the site where bodily boundaries issue of “All-Gender Restroom” has been getting more and are broken and then made solid again. The body is (re)made more attention and being taken into account by the staff at ready for public scrutiny. Longhurst examine men’s Building Administration Department. experience of domestic toilets/ bathrooms as a strategic move In recent years, the issue of "unisex restrooms" has to displace the often implicit association of body fluids and flows with fermininity (especially maternity, pregnancy and

Manuscript received June 30, 2017; revised October 12, 2017. menstruation) [1]. Chihyuan Chang is with the Architecture and Building Research Institute, Gershenson and Penner (2009) point out it is only by Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan (e-mail: [email protected])

doi: 10.18178/ijssh.2017.7.11.911 702 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017 understanding the private or unconscious life and meanings unisex restrooms, including the preliminary conception of of controversial; how they are so integrally bound up with planning and designing unisex restrooms proposed by the other issues, from women’s right to gay sexual identity, that Architecture and Building Research Institute, MOI [10]; is often impossible to invoke one without invoking them all; Empirical Assessment and Reflection on Unisex Restrooms and why they have been the subject of so many passionate at Shih Hsin University [11]; The Process of Moving from debates, controversies, and design and art interventions Female Restroom to Unisex Restroom in the View of a throughout the modern era. Public toilets are also amenities Participant [12]. However, those studies mentioned above with a functional, even a civic, purpose. Yet they also act as have not carried out discussion about the definition, planning the unconscious of public spaces [2]. and design, and manageress’ view of unisex restrooms. Thus, Barcan (2010) pointed out public toilets are as this study was conducted and focused on this point of view. technologies of concealment, elimination, or disavowal [3]. Serlin (2010) discussed the disability, gender and the public toilet and pointed out the federal guidelines for III. RESEARCH METHODS enforcing or invoking the ADA deliberately presume a The research methods adopted in this study included laws disabled body that is unmarked to unaffected by differentials and regulations study, restroom-site investigation, interviews of gender, race, ethnicity, class, or sexuality, let alone bodily with managers and expert seminars. difference and normatively[4]. Methods included a study on laws and regulations, a Cavanagh (2010) explores how public toilets demarcate unisex restroom survey, and expert interviews. The steps the masculine and the feminine, and condition ideas of were as shown in Fig. 1, and the list of persons interviewed gender and sexuality. She pointed out the modern toilets and the outline of questions asked were as shown in Tables 1 engineers a truth about the body and its sex. The disciplining and 2 respectively. of gender is dependent upon visual and acoustic surveillance systems responsive to ideas about hygiene. Bodies are separates and subject to quarantine under the auspices of health and safety [5]. B. Review of Literature on All-Gender Restrooms, Installation and Policies Kogan (2010) argued that policymakers were motivated to enact toilet separation laws aimed at factories as a result of deep social anxieties over women leaving their homes- their appropriate “separate sphere”-to enter the work force. Laws mandated sex-separated factory toilet facilities as a cure-all for Victorian social anxieties [6]. Gershenson (2010) discussed the restroom revolution about unisex toilets and campus politics in the United States and pointed out public toilets are among the very few sex-segregated spaces remaining in the culture of the United States. The laws that govern them are among the very few in the United States still to be sex respecting, meaning that they still distinguish on their face between males and females [7]. Greeds (2010) pointed out the achievements of a nonsexist restroom requires immense cultural, attitudinal, policy, legal, and architectural changes. She also made recommendations as to how to create a nonsexist restroom, with respect to the Fig. 1. Steps and procedures. different levels of the problem-at the macro, meso, and micro levels. These recommendations involve new directions for TABLE 1: LIST OF PERSONS INTERVIEWED design and planning for the city as a whole, the local area, and Type No. Reason the toilet block, respectively [8]. Expert/scholar A1 University professor specializing in Peng (2013) observed that unisex restrooms appear to be environments for the elderly applauded but unappealing in Taiwan as most all-gender Expert/scholar A2 University professor specializing in restrooms are still being used as men’s restrooms. In environments for the elderly and interior particular, women still continue with preferences developed design from their previous gender roles in regard to their attitudes Expert/scholar A3 University professor specializing in toward restroom privacy boundaries and their usage behavior. assistive devices for the elderly Even transgender individuals would not necessarily want to Local government B1 Section chief familiar with building and use all-gender restrooms themselves despite being supportive official barrier-free regulations of the concept. She recommended that, besides men’s and Central B2 Section chief familiar with building women’s restrooms, an “Other” bathroom space is to be government administration regulations added to public restrooms in the future [9]. official Although Taiwan has gradually explored the issue of Local government B3 Section chief in charge of unisex

703 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017

official restrooms provide legal protection and repeal and amend discriminatory Central B4 Specializing in environments for the laws and regulations, as part of a policy to eliminate government elderly discrimination against women. research official State parties must be sure to incorporate the principles of Central B5 Specializing in barrier-free gender equality and non-discrimination into domestic law government environments and give them priority status and enforcement through an research official amendment to the Constitution or other appropriate means of Central B6 Specializing in disaster prevention legislation. In addition, State parties shall promulgate and government involving the elderly enact a law in accordance with the provisions of research official “Convention” to prohibit discrimination against women’s life Professional C1 Architect who has designed unisex cycle, and have the obligation to take actions to amend and restrooms abolish any existing laws, regulations, customs and practices Professional C2 Architect with practical experience in which constitute discrimination against women. Specific design groups of women, including ... homosexual women, women with disabilities,… elderly women ... and so on who are Taiwan Tongzhi D1 Member who cares about gender particularly vulnerable to discrimination in civil and criminal Association equality law, regulations and customary laws and practices. ... Taiwan Toilet D2 Chairperson concerned about toilet “Stipulated in the 47th session of “General Association design Source: compiled in the study. Recommendations” of the “Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women”, it can be TABLE II: OUTLINE OF QUESTIONS ASKED learned that the settings of unisex restroom involve the Research Question Interview Question concepts of "gender diversity" and "gender equality", which Characteristics of What are the intrinsic differences among are aiming to protect women from being discriminated unisex restrooms unisex, barrier-free, and multifunctional against and to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms. restrooms? The installation of unisex restrooms, concerning gender Design of unisex What is the emphasis in the interior design? diversity and gender equality, can protect women from restrooms How are safety and privacy taken into discrimination and enables them to enjoy human rights and consideration? What are the things to be noted basic freedoms. In addition, it solves problems faced by users, when designing restrooms? What is the parents with children, persons with disabilities accompanied difference between single-type unisex by those of the opposite gender, or transgender individuals, in restrooms and gender-segregated restrooms? using public toilets. It is highly related to the international Places where What should be considered regarding places of covenant. unisex restrooms installation? Should unisex and barrier-free In the United States, there must be at least one unisex toilet are installed restrooms be combined? in men’s and women’s restrooms with six toilets. In order to Enforcement of How to implement and enforce the laws? Are put gender friendliness into effect and to respect diversity, the unisex restroom they enacted and enforced directly or in stages? All-gender Restroom Installation Regulations of the National laws Taiwan University, which were enacted in accordance with Source: compiled in the study. the Gender Equity Education Act of the Ministry of Education to eliminate gender discrimination and to improve and establish gender-friendly education resources and IV. RESEARCH PROCESSES AND RESULTS environments, require the design of unisex restrooms in its buildings to follow important principles on safety and A. Clarification on the Installation of Unisex Restrooms privacy. as Provided in the Covenants, Laws and Systems Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and B. Unisex Restroom Interviews and Survey Analysis Political Rights under the Charter of the United Nations This study sorted the setting problems and features through provides that each state party to the covenant undertakes to site investigation of unisex restrooms, manager interviews respect and to ensure the rights recognized in the covenant to and expert workshops (Table III). all individuals within its territory and subject to its Summary of interviews and conclusions: jurisdiction, regardless of gender. Based on the provisions of 1) There have been different opinions on whether or not “State Parties condemn discrimination against women in all unisex restrooms should be combined with or its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and separated from ordinary and barrier-free restrooms. without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against 2) Although restrooms should be planned and designed women …and Paragraph (f) To take all appropriate measures, from the standpoint of users, public sentiment should including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, also be considered in promoting unisex restrooms. regulations, customs and practices which constitute 3) Small or restrooms under certain scales are unsuitable discrimination against women;…” provided for in Article 2 for installation as unisex restrooms, and their of the “Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of installation should take into account the usage Discrimination Against Women” under the United Nations situations of various types of buildings. Charter along with the statement of “Paragraph (f) …of 4) The possibility of combining barrier-free and unisex Article 2 provides that State parties have the obligation to restrooms should depend on the actual usage situation,

704 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017

and, if used together with barrier-free restrooms, these of laws have been consistent. Customs and traditions restrooms should not be of a single type to give and the society’s openness and acceptance must be diversity and selectivity. taken into consideration. 5) Opinions on places of installation and the enforcement

TABLE III: UNISEX RESTROOM INTERVIEWS AND SURVEY ANALYSIS Issue Response What are the To be 1. Combining barrier-free and unisex restrooms may lead to differential treatment and causes users to feel intrinsic separated excluded psychologically (B6). differences 2. Barrier-free and unisex restrooms shouldn’t be integrated because it would shut out different user groups among unisex, (A3). barrier-free, 3. The remodeling of barrier-free restrooms into unisex restrooms is not recommended so as to avoid pushing and aside barrier-free restroom users (B2). multifunctional Not to be 1. Unisex restroom is an issue at the psychological thinking level, whereas mobility disability is the thinking restrooms? separated behind barrier-free design initially. There is no conflict, and there is no need for separation. Instead, it is an unfriendly behavior if separated (A2). 2. Gender distinction would not be necessary. Transgender individuals often cannot use public toilets comfortably, but they also don’t want to use barrier-free restrooms for fear of occupying disabled persons’ space. If restrooms are set up for their use alone, there will be a labeling issue (D1). To be 1. From studies on elderly persons with dementia, it was shown that barrier-free restrooms should not be of a combined single type and should differentiate unassisted use from assisted use, giving diversity and selectivity. Unisex restrooms can be combined (A1). 2. The nature of public places must be analyzed for unisex restrooms, and installation proportions should be considered. If there were excessive disparities in proportions, integration with barrier-free restrooms should be possible (C2). Design of unisex restrooms 1. Take crime worries (e.g. snooping and intimidation) and safety into consideration and should add emergency reporting systems (B2). 2. Have signage systems on the outside so that people can see all the facilities inside barrier-free restrooms at first glance (A2). 3. Safety problems can be solved via emergency buttons (D1). 4. Keep proportions and scales flexible, set high requirements for restroom partitions and consider installing fire warning lights (C1). 5. Unisex restrooms are used by co-workers and offer much more open space and lesser blind spots after design. Thus, attention must be paid to privacy considerations inside these restrooms and the cubicles, and peeping and toilet noises must be prevented. Moreover, the awkwardness of male and female users seeing each other at the hand basin area must also be taken into account, and the restroom space’s colors need to break away from gender stereotypes. Finally, restrooms must be kept clean, tidy, ventilated, and well-lit (B3). Places where unisex restrooms 1. Related scales of places to be installed should be clearly specified to comply with building usage types and are installed scales (B2). 2. Small or restrooms under certain scales are unsuitable for installation to avoid insufficient number of users (B2). 3. With educational significance, universities in the country can install unisex restrooms, but, as suggested, their installation in elementary schools and kindergartens are unnecessary for the time being (C1). Enforcement of unisex restroom 1. Implement in stages (B2) laws 2. Take customs and traditions into account (C1). 3. Take the thinking, the openness, and the acceptance of the society into consideration and can be enforced in phases and segments (D2). Source: compiled in the study. or children to change clothes. The height of sitting toilets for C. Analysis of the Setting of Various Types of Unisex children is 30-35 cm. E-type restrooms for Restrooms physically-challenged people are multifunction restrooms To explore the design of domestic high-quality unisex that include all facilities. restrooms, the researcher visited the section manager of Taking close look at such restrooms as well as going Da-an District of Taipei City on May 18, 2015. The section through several interviews (Table V) , we know they have manager stated that planners had referred to the “Design been developed mainly based on the relevant regulations in Manual of Hygienic Equipment in Public Construction” of “”toilets, restrooms” of the 2.7 section of Japan’s “Building Construction and Planning Agency, MOI during the design Codes for the Mobility of Senior Citizens and and planning stage, and then construction was completed Physically-Challenged People”. It’s to expand the main users after receiving architects’ designs and obtaining advice from of accessible restrooms – wheelchair users to senior citizens, Taiwan sex experts. It is now classified as a premium physically-challenged people, visually-impaired people, restroom by the EPA of Taipei City Government. (Figure 2) pregnant women, children, people with artificial anus or The study analyzes "The handicapped restroom B-type people with artificial bladders, thus, the original accessible (/Restroom for Parents with Infants)” and "The handicapped restrooms are improved with necessary facilities and are restroom E-type (multifunction toilet)” of "3-4 Toilets for the become multifunction restrooms. To improve the handicapped” in the “Design Manual of Hygienic Equipment frequencies of its usage, different types of restrooms are built in Public Construction”. Among them, B-type restrooms are according to various requirements of restrooms in different the combination of standard restroom and restroom for locations. Child toilet, child safety seat, baby changing table, parents with infants; it includes facilities such as baby changing table, multi-use toilet are included for multiple use. changing table, child safety chair, and child toilet. Under the Besides, physically-challenged people that are wheelchair baby changing table, there is a 60x60 cm station for women -bound usually suffer from elimination disorders which

705 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017 usually require them to use enema or their own hands to help 4) Redesign will enlarge the space and reduce blind them defecate. When they are done, their hands are dirty but corners, to prevent crime and enhance restroom they can’t stand on their feet to wash their hands. They need safety. to be able to wash their hands while sitting on the wheelchair. So, a small sink is installed on the sidewall of the toilet. This study observes the space renovation of the all-gender restrooms in Da-an District, Taipei City. The main renovation is to add a door to each private toilet area while putting emphasis on the gentle atmosphere of the space, thus, public sinks and powder rooms are installed while facilities to enhance privacy, lighting and air conditioning are also added. From field observations and interview conclusions, the researcher summarized the advantages of current Taiwan unisex restrooms as follows: 1) Solve toileting problem for some of the elderly or young children who need their family members’ assistance with mobility issues. 2) Adjusting the problem of uneven ratio of male and female restroom space allocation and of the proportion of male and female’s toilet usage time. Fig. 2. Unisex restroom in Da-an district, Taipei City. 3) Allowing the use of restroom to be more flexible and efficient, and saving usage space.

TABLE IV: ANALYSIS OF THE SETTING OF VARIOUS TYPES OF UNISEX RESTROOMS Type Building Analysis of Setting Office Da-an District 1. Colors between restroom walls and closet doors shall avoid generating a building Office, Taipei gender-stereotyped impression. City 2. The closet door can adopt different types of signs. 3. Set a powder room. 4. Consider privacy at top and bottom of the closet door. 5. Set different toilet facilities in different closet doors with a door for each cubicle. 6. Set auxiliary facilities inside the cubicle, including baby safety seats, stands, hooks etc. 7. Install handrails and emergency equipment in toilet. 8. Install mechanical ventilation in the toilet to reduce odor. 9. Install automatic photosensitive lighting to save power and increase toilet security. Public National 1. Consider privacy at top and bottom of closet door. gathering Science 2. Set different toilet facilities in different closet door with a door in each cubicle, places Education but urinals shall be co-located on the inside corner. Center 3. Set hook inside the cubicle.

School The 1. Remove the original male and female signs in toilet. International 2. Beautify the entrance porch with works of art. Hall of National 3. Consider privacy at top and bottom of closet door. Cheng Kung 4. Set different toilet facilities in different closet doors with a door in each cubicle. University 5. Set hook inside the room closet.

Source: compiled in the study.

The following matters should be considered when setting room. unisex restrooms: 4) The space color of gender stereotypes needs to be 1) The consideration of privacy between toilet rooms: to broken down: use a mixture of different colors to prevent peeping and sounds of elimination. Equipping avoid all red or blue color. toilets with music or water sounds might be a good 5) The restroom should be kept clean, tidy, ventilated way to avoid such noises. and well-lit: break down the existing stereotype of 2) The consideration of the size of restroom space: the restroom as always dirty. restroom space is to be shared by men and women and, D. Further Define and Design Recommendations for if the space is sufficient, should design different Unisex Restroom regions for urinals, washbasins and applying makeup. 3) The consideration of embarrassment when using the Since this study suggests that "unisex restroom" denotes toilet space: the embarrassment between two strangers "no-gender public toilets", it should be made clear that such of opposite sex meeting at the hand washing sink can restrooms can be used by people of male, female, neutral or be avoided by setting up a small sink within the toilet transgender, instead of marking it with a male or female label.

706 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017

The concept of Taiwan’s unisex restroom mainly refers to the toilets have been developed mainly based on Japan’s contents of the "The handicapped toilet type B (and paternity accessible toilet ideas. However, there is difference between toilet)” and "The handicapped toilet E-type (multifunction unisex restroom and Taiwan’s simple accessible toilet or toilet)” of "3-4 Toilets for the handicapped” in the “Design Japan’s accessible toilet which emphasizes multiple Manual of Hygienic Equipment in Public Construction” of functions. The essential difference lies in the consideration of Construction and Planning Agency, MOI issued in 2001 gender segmentation in such restrooms which stresses the (Construction and Planning Agency, MOI, 2001). Such design of blurred gender boundaries (Table V).

TABLE V: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF SINGLE AND COMPOUND UNISEX RESTROOMS Single type of unisex restroom Compound type of unisex restroom 1. Refer to "Handicapped toilet type B” of "3-4 Toilets for the 1. In addition to refer the design feature of single type of unisex restroom, handicapped” in the “Design Manual of Hygienic Equipment in Public the compound unisex restroom may be established if space is Construction” issued by MOI. sufficient. 2. Spatial planning 2. Spatial planning (1) Color: should avoid gender stereotype impression. (1) Design room according to different usage demands: in response to the (2) Signs: the closet door shall use different types of sign elderly, family, gender needs, it is necessary to consider setting up (3) Diagram of space configuration: set configuration diagram at the squat toilets, sitting toilet, parenting toilet, urinals. A closet door entrance to enable people to understand the toilet location. should be provided for each room. (4) Music: the toilet may play music or the sound of water to avoid the (2) Common settings in accessible restrooms: since there can be a common embarrassment of toilet functions. washroom between an accessible restroom and unisex restroom, (5) Lighting: should be mainly based on natural lighting supplemented by consider installing such a setting in compound unisex restrooms. artificial lighting. (3) Urinal area: a door should be set in the entrance to the urinal area to (6) Ventilation: may adopt natural ventilation or mechanical ventilation to avoid the embarrassment of usage. maintain good ventilation. 3. Inter-toilet design 3. Room closet design (1) Small washbasin: each different inter-toilet should have a small (1) Toilet facilities: providing a urinal and toilet in each cubicle washbasin installed to avoid the embarrassment of men and (2) Door: the lower edge of the room closet door should be in a distance women sharing the same sink. range of 2 cm above the ground and the upper edge of the toilet (2) Dressing table: considering convenience and comfort, a dressing table door should protect privacy. should be set. (3) Small washbasin: should set up a small sink to avoid the (3) Inter-toilet accessories: in addition to setting emergency devices, it is embarrassment of joint female and male users. also necessary to set a baby safety seat, baby diaper change bed, (4) Emergency devices: set up emergency devices to ensure safe use. and dress up table or dressing closet in parenting toilet within a (5) Toilet lighting: may install automatic photosensitive lighting to save unisex restroom. power and increase toilet security. (4) Handrail settings: in order to ensure safety and convenience for the elderly, sitting toilet could be installed with an L-shaped armrest and a squat toilet could be installed with a T-shaped armrest. Source: compiled in the study.

process of design. V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Unisex restrooms can solve the problems of some elderly Gender-role norms wield the power of structural discipline persons or young children who may require the assistance of and are able to control an individual’s own “will” or “choice”. family members in using bathrooms due to mobility Gender mainstreaming seeks to change social order, norms disabilities, but they do not necessarily solve the problems and systems. Building a humanized society that genuinely regarding space layouts and proportions for male and female takes various differences into consideration will be an issue restrooms and uneven rates of toilet usage time. of resource and power redistribution. The unisex restroom is Unisex restrooms are a way of implementing gender a way of implementing gender mainstreaming. The universal mainstreaming, and their layouts need to adapt appropriately design concept can signify support for gender mainstreaming time- and location-wise. because both ideas are attempts to challenge established It is suggested that unisex restrooms can be divided into standards, especially systems or products constructed or single and compound types and, under the social environment regenerated based on “mainstream” (male or non-disabled) of Taiwan, the possibility of promoting in phases need to be viewpoints or preferences. In addition, the work of gender taken into consideration. mainstreaming also helps designers to think outside the box of mainstream values and to see the structural problems, ACKNOWLEDGMENT avoiding the specialization and labeling of requirements Chihyuan Chang would like to thank the anonymous during the process of design and overturning the designing referees for their valuable comments. This work was discrimination resulting from structural problems, to develop supported by Architecture and Building Research Institute, gender-friendly space. Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. Unisex restrooms put emphasis on being toilets that can be used freely by individuals of all genders, including male, REFERENCES female, neutral, and transgender. Being a phased strategy for [1] R. Longhurst, Bodies: Exploring Fluid Boundaries, London and New the gender liberation movement, unisex restrooms York: Routledge, 2001. incorporate the concept of universal design and aim at [2] O. Gershenson and B. Penne, Ladies and Gents: Public Toilets and Gender, Temple University Press, 2009. breaking what are expected in the mainstream point of view. [3] R. Barcan, “Dirty spaces: Separation, concealment, and shame in the They can be seen from the perspective of international public toile,” Toilet: Public Restrooms and the Politics of Sharing, covenants and domestic laws and can help designers to think Harvey Molotch and Laura Norén, Ed. New York and London: New York University Press, pp.25-46, 2010. outside the box of mainstream values, avoiding specialization, [4] D. Serlin, "Pissing without Pity: Disability, gender, and the public labeling and discrimination in requirements during the toilet,” Toilet: Public Restrooms and the Politics of Sharing, Harvey

707 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 2017

Molotch and Laura Norén, Ed. New York and London: New York [10] Architecture and Building Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior, University Press, pp.167-190, 2010. Taiwan, The Preliminary Conception of Planning and Designing [5] S. L. Cavanagh, Queering Bathrooms: Gender, Sexuality, and the Unisex Restrooms Proposed by the Architecture and Building Hygienic Imagination, University of Toronto Press, 2010. Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan, 2015. [6] T. S. Kogan, "Sex separation: The cure-all for victorian social anxiety,” [11] Y. Hsieh, Spatial Justice: the Problems of Various Uses in the Public Toilet: Public Restrooms and the Politics of Sharing. Harvey Molotch Restrooms from the Stakeholders Perspective, Thesis in Department of and Laura Norén, Ed. New York and London: New York University Public Administration in National Chengchi University, 2015. Press, pp. 145-166, 2010. [12] Y. W. Peng, "The process of moving from female restroom to unisex [7] O. Gershenson, “The restroom revolution: Unisex toilets and campus restroom," View of a Participant. Gender Equality Education politics,” Toilet: Public Restrooms and the Politics of Sharing, Harvey Magazine, pp. 76-84, 2006. Molotch and Laura Norén, Ed. New York and London: New York University Press, pp. 161-207 2010. Chihyuan Chang was born in 1972, in Taiwan. He is [8] C. Greed, “Creating a nonsexist restroom,” Toilet: Public Restrooms a doctor of philosophy, Graduate School of Design of and the Politics of Sharing, Harvey Molotch and Laura Norén, Ed. the National Yunlin University of Science and New York and London: New York University Press, 2010, pp. 117-144, Technology. He is a assistant research fellow, 2010. Planning Division, Architecture and Building [9] Y. Peng et al., “Other" than men's and women's toilets: Reflection on Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior; as a the unisex restroom experience of Shih Hsin University," Journal of adjunct assistant professor of Department of Women's and Gender Studies, 32, pp. 43-96, 2013. Architecture, Tamkang University, Taiwan.

708